Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum User Manual

How to use this manual

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Creative Technology Ltd. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of Creative Technology Ltd. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any other medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. The licensee may make one copy of the software for backup purposes only.

The Software License Agreement is found in a separate folder on this installation CD. The copyright and disclaimer, including trademark issues are also found in the same folder.

Important:

This User Manual (On CD) has been designed to provide you with complete product knowledge. The following are instructions on how to make use of this manual effectively by launching applications and help files, as well as accessing relevant web sites, where applicable, via specially prepared links.

• To launch applications, Help files or to access relevant web sites, click the blue text, or whenever the

symbol or appears on the object or text.

• For best viewing, this PDF is by default set to "Fit Width" so that all the contents on every page is visible. If

you are unable to read the text clearly, press Ctrl + <+> to zoom in or Ctrl + <-> to zoom out. To view full screen, press Ctrl + <L>.

Note:

Otherwise, you will receive error messages. When you click a link to launch a program, a dialog box may appear to inform you that Adobe Acrobat is going to launch the application. Click the All button to run subsequent applications without the message appearing again. To access linked web sites, your computer must be connected to the Internet.

To access the applications and Help files, you must first install the manual and the applications in your computer.

Contents

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment.............................ix

What is EAX ADVANCED HD? ................................................ x

Package Contents ...........................................................xi

System Requirements..................................................... xii

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ........................................ xii

SB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing .................xii

Internet Multimedia and Entertainment ........................ xiii

Getting More Information.................................................... xiii

More Help ......................................................................... xiii

Technical Support .............................................................. xiii

Document Conventions....................................................... xiii

1 Installing Hardware

What You Need......................................................................... 1-1

Your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Card............................................... 1-2

Your Joystick/MIDI Bracket ........................................................ 1-5

Your Audigy 2 Drive .................................................................. 1-6

Connecting Headphones .................................................... 1-8

Connecting Microphones .................................................... 1-9

Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain................... 1-10

Using the Audigy 2 Drive control knobs ............................. 1-10

Using Creative Surround Mixer ......................................... 1-11

Using a Remote Control with Your Drive..................................... 1-11

Remote Control Functions ........................................................ 1-12

Installation Steps .................................................................... 1-14

Step 1: Prepare your computer ........................................ 1-14

Step 2: Connect the Audigy 2 Drive cables ........................ 1-16

Step 3: Install the Audigy 2 Drive..................................1-17

Step 4: Install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card...............1-18

iii

Step 5: Install the Joystick/MIDI bracket ........................... 1-19

Step 6: Connect cables to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card....... 1-20

Step 7: Connect to power outlet ....................................... 1-22

Connecting Related Peripherals................................................. 1-23

Connecting Speaker Systems ................................................... 1-26

Connecting External Consumer Devices ..................................... 1-27

Positioning Your Speakers ........................................................ 1-29

2 Installing Software

Installing Drivers and Applications............................................... 2-1

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo.......................... 2-2

Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Applications and Device Drivers .... 2-2

Reinstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications ...................... 2-2

Uninstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications ...................... 2-3

Installing/Uninstalling selected Audio Drivers or Applications.. 2-4

Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2) .................................... 2-5

Updating Windows 98 SE ........................................................... 2-5

Installing Digital Video Update............................................ 2-5

3 Using Audigy 2 Software

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Applications ............................... 3-1

Demos..................................................................................... 3-2

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo ................. 3-2

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo.............. 3-2

SoundFont Showcase ........................................................ 3-3

Introduction to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software suite ............. 3-3

Creative MediaSource Go! ............................................. 3-3

Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher.................................... 3-4

Creative MediaSource Player.......................................... 3-4

Creative MediaSource Organizer..................................... 3-5

Finding and organizing songs ..................................... 3-5

Keep your music database up to date ......................... 3-5

Transferring songs .................................................... 3-5

Automatically playing multimedia content.................... 3-5

Extracting and converting songs................................. 3-6

Storing music on recordable CD ................................. 3-6

Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player.............................. 3-6

Creative EAX Console ........................................................ 3-7

Audio Effects: Environmental Sound Processing ........... 3-7

CMSS 3D: Simulating Surround Sound........................ 3-8

Audio Clean-up: Removing noise and distortion............ 3-8

Time Scaling: Varying the speed of playback ............... 3-8

Creative Surround Mixer ............................................... 3-9

Creative Speaker Settings ............................................. 3-9

Creative Speaker Calibrator ........................................... 3-9

Creative MiniDisc Center ............................................... 3-9

Creative SoundFont Bank Manager ................................ 3-10

Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2.................................3-10

Creative Wave Studio ..................................................3-11

Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities...................................... 3-11

Creative Diagnostics .................................................... 3-11

Creative Speaker Settings ............................................3-12

Appendixes

A General Specifications

Features .................................................................................. A-1

PCI Bus Mastering .................................................... A-1

Audigy Processor ...................................................... A-1

High Quality Audio Path............................................. A-1

Professional Digital Audio Processing........................... A-2

Flexible Mixer Control................................................ A-2

Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoding.................................... A-2

Creative Multi Speaker SurroundTM (CMSSTM) ............ A-3

SB1394TM Compatibility............................................ A-3

Connectivity ............................................................................. A-3

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card .............................................. A-3

Audio Inputs ............................................................ A-3

Audio Outputs .......................................................... A-3

SB1394 Interfaces .................................................... A-4

Interfaces ................................................................ A-4

Audigy 2 Drive............................................................. A-5

Audio/Video Inputs and Outputs On Front Panel........... A-5

Interfaces ................................................................ A-5

B Troubleshooting and FAQs

Problems Installing Software ...................................................... B-1

Problems with Sound................................................................. B-2

Problems with File Transfers on Some VIA Chipset Motherboards .... B-6

Insufficient SoundFont Cache ..................................................... B-7

Problems with Joystick............................................................... B-8

Problems with Multiple Audio Devices .......................................... B-9

Problems with Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound Blaster

PCI512 card.......................................................................... B-10

Resolving I/O Conflicts............................................................. B-11

Problems with Encore DVD Player ............................................. B-12

Problems with Software DVD Player .......................................... B-12

Problems with DV driver for Windows 98 SE/2000/Me/XP ............ B-13

Problems in Windows XP .......................................................... B-14

Problems with Digital Audio Devices .......................................... B-15

vii

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment

MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing), the method of audio data compression used in DVD-Audio, reduces file size without removing any of the information that was contained in the original recording. The listening audience will hear the audio as it was intended in the original recording. Other packing methodologies that remove data as part of the compression are referred to as 'Lossy Compression'

Thank you for purchasing Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum, the next generation Creative audio product with exciting new features and enhanced audio processing architecture.

This User Manual (on CD) guides you through the installation and usage of Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum consists of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, Joystick/MIDI bracket, the Audigy 2 Drive and an infrared (IR) remote control.

Featuring 24-bit/192 kHz audio playback, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum delivers high-definition sound of astounding quality and 24-bit/96 kHz audio recording capability from all Line Ins and SPDIF In. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum supports surround sound audio on your computer and has output capabilities for 6.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, with its Audigy 2 processor, enables awesome

ADVANCED HDTM technologies for your gaming and music listening

EAX experience. The SB1394 port provides easy high-speed connectivity to NOMAD

portable digital audio players, external CD-RW drives, and other IEEE 1394 compatible devices like DV camcorders, printers, scanners, and digital still cameras.

Combine Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum with our rich software package for hours of endless fun. Included in your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD are the latest generation drivers and software for you to enjoy DVD-Audio entertainment with native MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) support, and to create EAX-enhanced MP3 songs, which you can share with your friends over the Internet.

Introduction ix

What is EAX ADVANCED HD?

EAX ADVANCED HD brings a new level of performance, power, and flexibility to PC audio. Taking advantage of the enhanced processing capabilities of the SoundBlaster Au digy 2 pro cess or, EAX ADVANCED HD delivers a host of new features that achieve high definition audio for gaming and music enhancement.

The all-new EAX ADVANCED HD Game Audio Library takes in-game audio and acoustic simulation to a whole new level. These innovative technologies bring tremendous realism and total audio immersion for PC gaming:

❑ New Multi-Environment

technology renders multiple environment audio

effects in real time.

❑ Environment Panning

makes it easy for gamers to track with threedimensional precision, the location and movement of sounds that usually represent enemies or team mates. This gives Sound Blaster Audigy 2 gamers a better advantage as they are more "attuned" to the game scenario.

❑ Environment Reflections ❑ Environment Filtering

offers localization of early reflections and echoes.

accurately simulates the propagation of sound in both open and closed environments.

❑ Environment Morphing

allows for seamless transition from one environment

to the next.

EAX ADVANCED HD Music Technologies also assures sonic superiority.

❑ Audio Clean-Up ❑ Time Scaling ❑ EAX ADVANCED HD

removes unwanted noise in a digital audio file.

speeds up and slows down music with no distortion.

music effects, developed especially for music listening,

further enhance playback of songs.

EAX ADVANCED HD offers dramatically increased 3D audio performance and functionality. Delivering superior audio fidelity and sophisticated reverb effects, this unsurpassed digital entertainment experience is available only from the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 family of products.

Introduction x

Package Contents

The items listed here may be different in certain countries.

Use the AD_EXT cable with the Audigy 2 Drive ONLY. Do not attempt to use a conventional IDE cable or any other cable with the Audigy 2 Drive as that may cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to the Audigy 2 card and Audigy 2 Drive, which will void the warranty for this product. Your computer may potentially be damaged too.

The following items are included with the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum package:

❑

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

❑

Audigy 2 Drive and IR remote control

❑

Joystick/MIDI bracket

❑

Internal SB1394 cable

❑

AD_EXT cable

❑

Digital CD audio cable

❑

Power splitter cable

❑

2 Mini-DIN-to-standard-DIN adapters

❑

3.5 mm minijack to 1/4" plug adapter

❑

4 screws + shunt (for microphone selection)

❑

2 AAA batteries for the IR remote control

❑

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD

❑

Quick Start Guide

❑

User manual (on CD)

❑

Demos and game CDs

❑

Warranty (printed or on CD)

❑

Technical Support (printed or on CD)

Introduction xi

System Requirements

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

SB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing

Minimum 256 MB RAM recommended for Windows 2000 SP2 and Windows XP users for games and DV capture and editing.

❑ Genuine Intel ❑ Intel, AMD or 100%-Intel compatible motherboard chipset ❑ Windows

2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows XP

❑ 64 MB RAM for Windows 98 SE and Windows Me

128 MB RAM for Windows 2000 SP2 and Windows XP

❑ 600 MB of free hard disk space ❑ Available PCI 2.1 compliant slot for the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card ❑ Available adjacent slot for the Joystick/MIDI bracket (optional) ❑ Available 5 1/4" PC drive bay ❑ Headphones or amplified speakers (available separately) ❑ CD-ROM drive installed

❑ Genuine Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or AMD 700 MHz processor for SB1394

applications or games

❑ SB1394: Minimum 128 MB RAM for digital video (DV) capture and editing

recommended, Ultra DMA hard disk with 1 GB workspace (ATA-100, 7,200 rpm type and 6 GB recommended) for DV applications

❑ Games: At least 128 MB RAM, 3D graphics accelerator with at least 8 MB of

texture RAM, available 300–500 MB of free hard disk space

❑ DVD: At least second generation DVD-ROM drive with these recommended soft-

DVD players: InterVideo’s WinDVD 2000 or CyberLink’s PowerDVD 3.0 or later

❑ DVD-Audio: Requires genuine Intel Pentium III 800 MHz, Windows 2000 SP2 or

Windows XP SP1, and a second generation DVD-ROM drive 6X or higher

Pentium® II 350 MHz, AMD® K6 450 MHz or faster processor

98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows

Introduction xii

Internet Multimedia and Entertainment

Internet Radio: Requires at least a 56 kbps modem and an active Internet connection to run the application.

Other applications may have higher system requirements or may require a microphone. Refer to the application’s online Help documentation for details.

Getting More Information

More Help

Technical Support

Document Conventions

Refer to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo and the various online Help files for detailed information on Creative applications. The Sound Blaster

Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo gives you an interactive introduction to Sound

Blaster Audigy 2 and demonstrates the card’s capabilities.

View the contents of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD for additional libraries and other software. Visit the www.soundblaster.com site for the latest Sound Blaster news and products. The site also includes information on making purchases, technical help, and the latest driver updates.

Visit www.soundblaster.com/support/faq for general help.

The following typographical conventions are used throughout this manual:

The notepad icon indicates information that is of particular importance and should be considered before continuing.

The alarm clock designates a caution or warning that can help you avoid situations involving risk.

The warning sign indicates that failure to adhere to directions may result in bodily harm or life-threatening situations.

Introduction xiii

Installing Hardware

This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum hardware.

Installing Hardware

What You Need

In addition, you will also need an available PCI slot and another adjacent available slot on your computer.

Before you begin installation, be sure that you have these:

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Drive

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Digital CD audio cable

Phillips-head screwdriver Joystick/MIDI bracket

(not included)

Remote Control

AD_EXT cable

Internal SB1394 cable

Screws

Shunt

Installing Hardware 1-1

Your Sound

Blaster Audigy 2 Card

Your audio card has these jacks and connectors to enable the attachment of a wide variety of devices:

In Analog mode, the Line Out, Rear Out and Rear Center Out

acks are used simultaneously for 6.1 channel speaker systems.

Click any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.

Figure 1-1: Jacks, connectors and ports on the

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Installing Hardware 1-2

Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Number Description

SB1394 port (SB1394)

Connects to an IEEE1394 compatible external device (such as a digital video camcorder, digital still camera, printer or scanner).

Line Out 3 jack (LIN_OUT3)

Connects to Center, Subwoofer and Rear Center Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output.

Line Out 2 jack (LIN_OUT2)

Connects to Rear Left/Right Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output.

Line Out 1 jack (LIN_OUT1)

Connects to Front Left/Right Out of powered analog speakers or an external amplifier for audio output. Also supports headphones.

Microphone In jack (MIC_IN)

Connects to an external microphone for voice input.

Line In jack (LIN_IN)

Connects to an external device (such as a cassette, DAT or MiniDisc player).

Digital Out jack

6-channel or compressed AC-3 SPDIF output for connection to external digital devices or digital speaker systems.

Installing Hardware 1-3

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Table 1: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Ports.

Number Description

Telephone Answering Device connector (TAD)

Provides a monaural connection from a standard voice modem, and transmits microphone signals to the modem.

CD Audio connector (CD_IN)

Connects to the Analog Audio output on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive using a CD audio cable.

AUX In connector (AUX_IN)

Connects to internal audio sources such as TV Tuner, MPEG, or other similar cards.

Internal SB1394 port

Connects to the SB1394 connector on the Audigy 2 Drive.

CD SPDIF connector (CD_SPDIF)

Connects to the SPDIF (Digital Audio) output (where available) on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive using the Digital CD audio cable provided.

Joystick/MIDI connector (JOYSTICK)

Connects to the Joystick/MIDI cable.

Audio Extension connector (AD_EXT)

Connects to the internal Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-4

Your Joystick/ MIDI Bracket

The Joystick/MIDI bracket is used to attach a joystick or MIDI device:

Joystick/MIDI connector

Connects to a joystick or a MIDI device.

Rear view of connector bracket

Figure 1-2: Connector on the Joystick/MIDI bracket.

Installing Hardware 1-5

Your Audigy 2 Drive

The Audigy 2 Drive provides additional connectivity for a number of other devices. The front panel of your Audigy 2 Drive has these jacks, connectors and controls:

Click any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.

• If your headphones or

microphone uses a 1/8" (3.5 mm) plug, use a 1/8" stereo mini plug to 1/4" stereo phono plug adapter (included).

• Set the gain of the Mic In 2

jack to the minimum before connecting or turning on a microphone, especially if you are monitoring the microphone input with headphones.

Figure 1-3: Jacks, connectors and controls on the Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-6

Table 2: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Controls.

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Number Description

¼” Line In 2/Mic In 2 jack

Connects to a microphone or audio devices such as electric guitars and DAT or MiniDisc players.

Headphone Volume Control

Controls the headphones output volume. See “Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain” on page 1-10.

¼” Headphone jack

Connects to a pair of headphones using a 1/4" stereo plug or adapter. Your speaker output is muted when you connect the headphones to the Audigy 2 Drive.

Coaxial SPDIF In/Out jacks

Connects to digital audio devices such as DAT and MiniDisc recorders, via RCA input/output.

Optical SPDIF In/Out connectors

Connects to digital audio devices such as DAT and MiniDisc recorders, via optical input/output.

Auxiliary 2 Line In jacks

Connects to consumer equipment such as VCR, TV and CD players, via RCA Auxiliary audio outputs.

Installing Hardware 1-7

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Table 2: Description of Jacks, Connectors and Controls.

Number Description

Infrared Receiver

Receptor for the Infrared commands from your IR remote control.

Connecting Headphones

There are two types of headphones that can be connected to your Audigy 2 Drive:

❑

Home or professional headphones fitted with a 1/4" stereo phono plugs

❑

Personal stereo headphones fitted with a 1/8" 3.5 mm stereo miniplug, such as those used with personal audio players, when used with the included 1/8" 3.5 mm minijack to 1/4" plug adapter.

MIDI In/Out connectors

Connects to MIDI devices using the mini DIN-to-Standard DIN adapters provided.

SB1394 connector

Connects to IEEE 1394 compatible devices.

Line In 2/Mic In 2 selector

(Microphone Gain Control) To switch to Line In 2, turn the knob counter clockwise over the Line In 2/Mic In 2 separator mark until you hear a “click”. To switch back to Mic In 2, turn the knob clockwise over the separator mark until you hear a “click”. To increase microphone gain, continue to turn clockwise. See “Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain” on page 1-10.

Line In 2/Mic In 2 separator mark

Installing Hardware 1-8

Connecting Microphones

There are two types of microphones that can be connected to your Audigy 2 Drive:

❑

Dynamic microphone, which is usually fitted with a ¼" stereo plug, such as those used in vocal performances.

❑

Condenser microphone, such as those sold for use with computers, are equipped with a 3.5 mm minijack.

• The Jumper JP1 may not be available on certain models of Audigy 2 Drive.

• The shunt for Jumper JP1 can be found together with the packet of screws provided.

Shunt

To us e a d yna m i c microphone, place the shunt onto Jumper JP1.

Figure 1-4: Microphone jumper settings.

To use a condenser microphone, remove the shunt from Jumper JP1 (default setting).

Jumper JP1

By default, your Audigy 2 Drive is set for use with a condenser microphone. To use a dynamic microphone, you must place the shunt (jumper) on to Jumper JP1 on your Audigy 2 Drive. See Figure 1-9 on page 1-16 for the location of Jumper JP1 on your Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-9

Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain

You can adjust the headphones volume and microphone gain in two ways.

Using the Audigy 2 Drive control knobs

On the front panel of the Audigy 2 Drive, turn the respective control knob:

❑ Counterclockwise ❑ Clockwise

increase

decrease

the headphones volume or microphone gain.

Installing Hardware 1-10

Using Creative Surround Mixer

To install Surround Mixer and other applications, see “Installing Drivers and Applications” on page 2-1.

• For best effects, set the headphones volume and microphone gain levels to 75% in Creative Surround Mixer, and then use the Audigy 2 Drive’s control knobs to make further adjustments.

• If you set the headphones volume or microphone gain levels to 0%, or mute them in Creative Surround Mixer, you hear no sound if the Audigy 2 Drive’s control knobs are set to the maximum.

To adjust headphones volume:

1. Click

Start

Surround Mixer

2. On the

Master Control

is no red “X” on the

Speaker

the

3. Drag the

Programs

Creative

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

panel of Creative Surround Mixer, make sure that there

Speaker

button under the

button. This will unmute the headphones output.

Volume

slider up or down to adjust the headphones volume.

To adjust microphone gain:

1. Click

Start

Surround Mixer

2. On the

Source

button with a down arrow, and then select

3. Make sure the it. Otherwise, click the

Programs

Creative

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

panel of Creative Surround Mixer, click an audio input source

Microphone

Speaker

button below the

Speaker

button. This will unmute the audio input.

Microphone

4. Drag the slider to adjust the microphone gain.

Volume

slider. Otherwise, click

slider has no red “X” on

Using a Remote Control with Your Drive

The Audigy 2 Drive has an infrared receiver for the remote control. This remote control lets you operate your computer from the comfort of your sofa or bed up to a distance of 4 meters (13 feet).

Installing Hardware 1-11

Remote Control Functions

• OSD - On Screen Display.

• Depending on where you purchased your product, the actual remote control may vary from the one shown here.

Refer to Figure 1-5 and Figure 1-6 below for a description of your remote control’s functions.

Number pad Used for the selection of tracks and menu items. To access a two-digit number track such as track 10, press the "1" button followed by the "0" button (in quick succession). During playback of a media format, press the "0" button to display the track list on the OSD for selection.

Up/Down buttons

Used for navigating up/ down.

Reverse/Left button

Used for rewinding a track, decreasing a value or navigating left.

Select/OK button

Executes a selected task or command. During playback of a media format, press this button to display the content menu on the OSD* for selection.

Fast Forward/ Right button

Used for fast forwarding a track, increasing a value or navigating right.

Stop/Eject button Stops the current playback. Pressing the button subsequently will eject the disc.

Play/Pause button Starts, pauses or resumes the current playback.

Record button

Starts audio recording.

Next button Goes to the next track or menu page.

Previous button

Goes to the previous track or menu page.

Slow Motion Forward button

Reduces the playback speed (except for audio CDs and MIDI files). Press repeatedly to select the speed. Press the Play/Pause button to resume normal playback.

Step Forward button

(For video only) Press once to pause the playback. Pressing the button subsequently will advance to the next video frame. To resume normal playback, press the Play/Pause button.

Figure 1-5: Navigation Buttons on the Remote Control.

Installing Hardware 1-12

EAX button

Displays the EAXspecific OSD menu.

Display button

Displays the current task status, and the time and date on the OSD.

Options button

Displays options for current task.

Power button

Displays the Shutdown menu.

CMSS button

Press to select CMSS mode.

Return button

Returns to parent menu.

Start button

Displays the OSD Start menu for the selection of a task.

Close/Cancel button

Cancels the current OSD menu or closes the current application controlled by the remote control.

Figure 1-6: Other Buttons on the Remote Control.

Mute button

Press to mute audio.

Master Volume buttons

Press the Volume Up (+) or Volume Down (-) button to control the master volume of your computer and Sound Blaster Audigy 2.

Installing Hardware 1-13

Installation Steps

Step 1: Prepare your computer

Turn off the main power supply and disconnect your computer’s power cord. Systems using an ATX power supply unit with soft power off may still be powering the PCI slot. This can damage your audio card when it is inserted into the slot.

Remove any existing audio card or disable the onboard audio chipset. For more information, see “Problems with Multiple Audio Devices” on page B-9.

1. Turn off your computer and all peripheral devices.

2. Touch a metal plate on your computer to ground yourself and to discharge any static electricity, and then unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.

3. Remove the computer cover.

4. Remove the metal brackets from two adjacent unused PCI slots as shown in Figure 1-7. Put the screws aside for use later.

A: metal bracket B: PCI slot C: ISA slot (may

not be present on your computer)

Figure 1-7: Removing metal plates

Installing Hardware 1-14

5. To install the Audigy 2 Drive, remove the front panel cover from an unused 5¼" drive bay, as shown in Figure 1-8.

5¼” drive bay cover

Figure 1-8: Removing 5¼” drive bay cover.

Installing Hardware 1-15

Step 2: Connect the

Connect the cables to the Audigy 2 Drive as shown in Figure 1-9.

Audigy 2 Drive cables

• Use the AD_EXT cable with the Audigy 2 Drive ONLY. Do not attempt to use a conventional IDE cable or any other cable with the Audigy 2 Drive as that may cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to the Audigy 2 card and Audigy 2 Drive, which will void the warranty for this product. Your computer may potentially be damaged too.

• To prevent permanent damage, use only: the AD_EXT cable with the AD_EXT connector, and the Audigy 2 card with the Audigy 2 drive.

• Do not force any cable into a connector. This can cause permanent damage to your hardware.

Audigy 2 Drive

Figure 1-9: Connecting the Audigy 2 Drive cables.

A: Internal SB1394

cable

B: Jumper for

microphone type selection

C: Power splitter cable

D: To sy s t em po w e r

supply unit

E: Red-colored wire F: AD_EXT cable G: Black circle on the

underside of the cable

Installing Hardware 1-16

Step 3: Install the Audigy 2 Drive

1. Slide the Audigy 2 Drive fully into the vacant 5¼" drive bay as shown in Figure 1-10.

Figure 1-10: Installing the Audigy 2 Drive.

2. Secure its sides to the casing with the screws provided.

Installing Hardware 1-17

Step 4: Install the Sound Blaster

1. Align the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card with the PCI slot and press the card gently but firmly into the slot as shown in Figure 1-11.

Audigy 2 card

Do not force the audio card into the slot. Make sure that the gold finger PCI connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card is aligned with the PCI bus connector on the motherboard before you insert the card into the PCI expansion slot. If it does not fit properly, gently remove it and try

again

Figure 1-11:Securing the audio card to the expansion slot.

2. Secure the card with one of the screws you had placed aside earlier.

Installing Hardware 1-18

Step 5: Install the Joystick/MIDI

bracket

You may also connect all the cables to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card first (as shown in “Step 6: Connect cables to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card” on page 1-20) before securing the card and Joystick/MIDI bracket in place.

If you are installing a joystick or MIDI device (optional), secure the Joystick/MIDI bracket to the slot next to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card with the second screw.

Joystick/MIDI bracket

Joystick/MIDI cable

Figure 1-12:Securing the Joystick/MIDI bracket.

Installing Hardware 1-19

Step 6: Connect cables to Sound

1. Connect the Joystick/MIDI cable to the Joystick/MIDI connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card as shown in Figure 1-13.

Blaster Audigy 2 card

• Align the red-colored wire to Pin 1 of the connector (see Figure 1-13).

Figure 1-13: Connecting the cables to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

A: Internal SB1394

cable

B: Pin 1 C: AD_EXT cable D: Red-colored wire E: Joystick/MIDI

cable

2. Connect the AD_EXT cable from the Audigy 2 Drive to the AD_EXT connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

3. Connect the Internal SB1394 cable from the Audigy 2 Drive to the Internal SB1394 port on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Installing Hardware 1-20

• If the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card is connected to both the CD_SPDIF and CD Audio connectors on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, do not enable the CD Audio and CD Digital options at the same time in Surround Mixer.

• Analog and Digital CD audio cables are not needed when CDDA is used.

• The CD_SPDIF connector is not used with software DVD players.

For analog CD audio output:

connect an Analog CD audio cable (available separately) from the Analog Audio connector on your CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive to the CD_IN connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card as shown in Figure 1-14.

Figure 1-14:Connecting analog/digital audio cables to CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drives.

A: CD-ROM/DVD-ROM

drive

B: Analog CD Audio

cable (available separately)

C: Digital CD Audio

cable

For digital CD audio output:

connect the Digital CD audio cable from the Digital Audio connector on your CDROM/DVD-ROM drive to the CD_SPDIF connector on the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card as shown in Figure 1-14.

Installing Hardware 1-21

Step 7: Connect to power outlet

1. Replace the computer cover.

2. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet, and turn on the computer.

To connect your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card to other devices, see “Connecting Related Peripherals” on page 1-23.

To install drivers and software, refer to “Installing Drivers and Applications” on page 2-1.

Installing Hardware 1-22

Connecting Related

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 will give you endless hours of listening pleasure. Figure 115 shows you how to connect related peripherals to your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 to optimize your enjoyment.

Peripherals

Click any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.

Line-out

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Figure 1-15:Connecting other devices

Installing Hardware 1-23

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Table 3: Description of Connectors and Devices.

Number Description

Digital Out jack

Connects to digital speakers, for example, Creative Inspire Digital Speakers and MiniDisc or DAT via minijack-to-DIN cable.

5.1

Line in

Connects to a cassette or CD player, synthesizer, etc.

Mic in

Connects to a microphone.

Line Out 1

(top),

Line Out 2

(middle) and

Line Out 3

(bottom)

Connects to analog front, rear and rear center inputs of 6-channel speakers, for example, 6.1 Creative Inspire or Cambridge SoundWorks analog speaker systems.

SB1394 port

Connects to all IEEE 1394 compatible devices such as NOMAD digital audio players, DV camcorders, digital cameras, and WebCams.

Joystick/MIDI bracket

Connects to a game pad or MIDI device like BlasterKey.

AD_EXT

Connects to Audigy 2 Drive.

Installing Hardware 1-24

Table 3: Description of Connectors and Devices.

Number Description

*Available separately.

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Analog CD audio cable*

(left) and

Digital CD audio cable

(right)

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive

Installing Hardware 1-25

Connecting Speaker Systems

If you have a 5.1 channel speaker system, you can upmix your stereo sources (such as CD Audio, MP3, WMA, MIDI, and Wave) to 6.1 channels by using Creative MultiSpeaker Surround (CMSS) technology. To upmix, you need to enable the CMSS feature in Creative EAX Console. Refer to the Creative EAX Console online Help.

*For example, Creative Inspire 6.1 Analog Speakers.

4.1 or 5.1 Digital Speaker System by Creative or Cambridge SoundWorks

Analog 6.1 channel speaker system*

Figure 1-16:Connecting Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card to speaker systems.

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

A: Analog Line and Rear Inputs B: Digital DIN C: Minijack-to-DIN cable D: 6.1 speaker audio cable E: Digital Out jack F: Line Out (top)

G: AD_EXT

Rear out (middle) Rear Center Out (bottom)

Connects to Audigy 2 Drive

Installing Hardware 1-26

Connecting External Consumer

Dolby Digital Decoder/ Amplifier

Devices

For discrete 7-channel amplifiers or systems, use a

3.5 mm (stereo) Audio/Videoto-RCA cable (not included) to connect Line Out 3 to available center, subwoofer and rear center channels.

Click any circled number in the diagram for a description of the item.

Discrete 6-channel Amplifier/Speaker System

Additional information for advanced users:

For connection to Center and Subwoofer channels using a 3.5mm (stereo)-to-RCA cable or 3.5 mm (stereo) Audio/Video-to-RCA cable, connect the white RCA jack to the Center input and the red RCA jack to the Subwoofer input.

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Figure 1-17:Connecting external consumer devices to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card.

Installing Hardware 1-27

Table 4: Description of Connectors and Consumer Devices.

Click here or on any description in the table to return to the main diagram.

Number Description

Dolby Digital (AC-3) SPDIF In

3.5 mm (mono)-to-RCA cable

3.5 mm (stereo)-to-RCA cable

3.5 mm (stereo) Audio/Video-to-RCA cable

Analog Front, Rear and Center/Subwoofer Inputs

Digital Out jack

Line Out 1 Line Out 2 Line Out 3

(top)

(middle) (bottom)

AD_EXT

Connects to Audigy 2 Drive

3.5 mm (stereo)-to-RCA plug: for 2-channel output, such as, Front Left and Right channels

3.5 mm (stereo) Audio/Video-to-RCA plug: for Center, Subwoofer and Rear Center channels

Installing Hardware 1-28

Positioning Your Speakers

Good loudspeaker placement can enhance your movie enjoyment, while careless placement can make good audio systems sound bad. For detailed loudspeaker placement tips, visit the Dolby Laboratories web site at

http://www.dolby.com/ht/ co_br_0110_ListenersGuideE X.html

If you are using six speakers, place them to form a circle around you (as in Figure 1-18) and angled toward you. Make sure that the computer monitor is not blocking the path of your front speakers. You may want to adjust the relative positions of the speakers until you get the audio experience you like best. If you have a subwoofer, place the unit in a corner of the room for the best bass experience.

Figure 1-18:Recommended speaker

positions.

Listener

FL: Front-left

speaker

CS: Center

speaker

FR: Front-right

speaker

RR: Rear-right

speaker

RC: Rear-center

speaker

RL: Rear-left

speaker

SW: Subwoofer

Installing Hardware 1-29

Installing Software

This chapter tells you how to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum software.

Installing Software

Installing Drivers and Applications

• During the installation process, Windows 98 SE users will be prompted to insert the Windows 98 SE installation CD into the CDROM drive. Insert the installation CD into the CDROM drive and then click the OK button.

• Some computers may not be supplied with the Windows 98 SE CD. The necessary files may be found in D:\Windows\ Options\Cabs (where D: represents the drive Windows has been installed on).

You need to install device drivers and applications prior to using your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum. To install these drivers and the selected software applications, use the following instructions. The instructions are applicable to all supported Windows operating systems.

1. After you have installed the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card and Audigy 2 Drive, turn on your computer. Windows automatically detects the audio card and device drivers.

2. When prompted for the audio drivers, click the

Cancel

button.

3. Insert the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. If the drive supports Windows AutoPlay mode, the CD starts running automatically. If not, you need to enable your CD-ROM drive’s auto-insert notification feature. For more details, see “Problems Installing Software” on page B-1.

4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

5. When prompted, restart your computer.

feel

the audio card’s awesome gaming, music reproduction and home studio capabilities, install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo. This demo requires high-quality 5.1/6.1 speaker for optimal listening experience. See “Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo” on page 2-2.

Installing Software 2-1

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo

1. Insert the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo CD into your CD-ROM

drive. If the drive supports Windows AutoPlay mode, the CD starts running automatically. If not, you need to enable your CD-ROM drive’s auto-insert notification feature. For more details, see “Problems Installing Software” on page B-1.

2. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation, and to run the

Demo.

Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Applications and Device Drivers

Reinstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications

At times you may need to uninstall or reinstall some or all of the audio card's applications and device drivers to correct problems, change configurations, or upgrade outdated drivers or applications. The following instructions tell you how to do so in all Windows operating systems.

Before you begin, close all audio card applications. Applications that are still running during the uninstallation will not be removed.

If you think the audio drivers and applications are corrupted, you may want to reinstall

1. Click

2. Double-click the

3. Click the

4. Select the

5. In the

6. Click the

all

of them. To do so:

Start

Change/Remove

InstallShield Wizard

the If prompted, insert the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD into your CD-ROM, and click the OK button.

Settings

Add/Remove Programs

Install/Uninstall

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

) button.

button.

Yes

button.

Control Panel

tab (or

dialog box, select the

icon.

Change or Remove Programs

entry, and then click the

Repair

Add/Remove (or

button, and then click

Installing Software 2-2

button).

7. Restart your computer when prompted.

You can now check the computer to see if the reinstalled software works properly. If not, proceed to “Troubleshooting and FAQs” on page B-1.

Uninstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications

For a cleaner installation, you may want to uninstall applications before you reinstall them again. To do so:

1. Click

2. Double-click the

3. Click the

4. Select the

5. In the

6. Click the

7. Restart your computer when prompted.

To uninstall Creative MediaSource and all its components, do the following:

1. Click

2. Double-click the

3. Click the

4. Select the

5. In the

6. Click the

7. Restart your computer when prompted.

Start

Change/Remove

InstallShield Wizard

click the

Change/Remove

and then click the

Start

InstallShield Wizard

Settings

Add/Remove Programs

Install/Uninstall

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

) button.

button.

Yes

button.

Settings

Add/Remove Programs

Install/Uninstall

Creative MediaSource

) button.

Yes

button.

Control Panel

tab (or

dialog box, select the

Control Panel

tab (or

dialog box, click the

button.

icon.

Change or Remove Programs

entry, and then click the

icon.

Change or Remove Programs

entry, and then click the

all

the audio drivers and

button).

Add/Remove (or

Remove

Full Uninstallation

button, and then

button).

Add/Remove (or

button,

Installing Software 2-3

You may now install existing or updated Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum device drivers or applications. For more information, see “Installing Drivers and Applications” on page 2-1.

Installing/ Uninstalling selected Audio Drivers or Applications

The above instructions help you to install or uninstall all device drivers or applications. However, you can also install or uninstall applications.

You may want to install/uninstall a selected audio driver or application. To do so:

1. Click

2. Double-click the

3. Click the

4. Select the

5. In the

6. Click the check box of the application that you want to uninstall to clear it.

7. Click the

8. Restart your computer when prompted.

To uninstall a selected component in Creative MediaSource, do the following:

1. Click

2. Double-click the

3. Click the

4. Select the

Start

Change/Remove

InstallShield Wizard

the

If you want to install an application, click the application check box to select it.

If prompted, insert the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD into your CD-ROM, and click the OK button.

Start

Change/Remove

Settings

Add/Remove Programs

Install/Uninstall

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

) button.

button.

Settings

Add/Remove Programs

Install/Uninstall

Creative MediaSource

) button.

Control Panel

tab (or

dialog box, select the

Control Panel

tab (or

icon.

Change or Remove Programs

entry, and then click the

icon.

Change or Remove Programs

entry, and then click the

selected

Modify

drivers or

button).

Add/Remove (or

button, and then click

button).

Add/Remove (or

Installing Software 2-4

5. In the

button, and then click the

6. Click the check box of the application that you want to uninstall to select it.

7. Click the

8. Restart your computer when prompted.

InstallShield Wizard

button.

dialog box, click the

button.

Custom Uninstallation

Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2)

Updating Windows 98 SE

Installing Digital Video Update

Windows 2000 now provides better support for AC-3 SPDIF output (non-PCM through waveOut) for software DVD viewing. Click the web site link below to download the Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 to enjoy this support and to fix other issues in the Windows 2000 OS.

http://www.microsoft.com

If you have installed DirectX 8.0 or 8.0a run time, install the latest update for this application. (DirectX 8.1 users do not need the update.)

This update provides PAL support and improved device support to 1394 Digital Video equipment users This is applicable for Windows 98 SE and Windows 2000 users. This update provides minor improvement to the Windows Me OS. To look for this update, go to the web site below.

http://www.microsoft.com

Installing Software 2-5

Using Audigy 2 Software

Find out how the software accompanying your audio card can be used to control and customize the card’s features for best performance.

Using Audigy 2 Software

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Applications

The applications included with Sound Blaster Audigy 2 may differ from those described here. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 may also come with third party applications.

The following software is designed for you to access the basic as well as the advanced features of your audio card. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with their functions in order to make full use of Sound Blaster Audigy 2’s rich features.

Demos: Providing an overview of Sound Blaster Audigy 2’s features

❑

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo

❑

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo

❑

SoundFont Showcase

Introduction to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software suite

❑

Creative MediaSource Go!

❑

Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher

❑

Creative MediaSource Player

❑

Creative MediaSource Organizer

❑

Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player

❑

Creative EAX Console

❑

Creative Surround Mixer

❑

Creative Speaker Calibrator

❑

Creative Speaker Settings

❑

Creative MiniDisc Center

❑

Creative SoundFont Bank Manager

❑

Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2

❑

Creative Wave Studio

Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities

❑

Creative Diagnostics

❑

Creative Speaker Settings

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-1

Demos

Three demo packages have been included to showcase the basic as well as the advanced features of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card. We recommend that you play them at least once in order to have a good overview of your card’s features.

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo

This is a good starting point from which you can learn about Sound Blaster Audigy

2. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo consists of several interactive and informative demos that highlight different aspects of Sound Blaster Audigy 2: experiencing digital music and digital gaming, watching movies, connecting speakers, and performing tasks.

Use the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo to awesome gaming, music reproduction, and home studio capabilities.

Experience the following exciting features of the new Sound Blaster Audigy 2:

❑

DVD-Audio Playback — Learn more about this new, high-resolution music format and experience the difference when a DVD-Audio clip is being played.

❑

EAX ADVANCED HD technologies — Experience complex multi-environment audio effects as you navigate through a fascinating virtual 3D world. Run this demonstration and experience EAX ADVANCED HD technologies such as Environment Panning, Environment Reflection and Environment Morphing. Compare the scenes with and without EAX ADVANCED HD, and you will understand why more game developers are using EAX ADVANCED HD technologies for the best gaming experience.

❑

Dolby Digital Surround EX Support — Listen to an audio clip containing an additional rear channel (rear center) that produces a richer and more consistent surround effect than that of systems with only two rear channels.

Note: The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo can be installed using the sep a rate D e mo CD in y our pa c k age. T h is demo w ill ru n o nly if a S ound B l a ster A u digy 2 c a rd is installed because the software utilizes the card’s hardware capabilities for the demonstrations.

feel

the audio card’s

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-2

SoundFont Showcase

SoundFont Showcase contains a wide and comprehensive range of downloadable SoundFont demos from companies like Sonic Implants and Voice Crystal. You can also learn how to create and manage your own SoundFont banks in here.

For more information and usage details on SoundFont Showcase, refer to its online Help.

Introduction to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software suite

Creative MediaSource Go!

This section walks you through the main suite of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software that enables you to make full use of Sound Blaster Audigy 2’s versatile and powerful features.

Creative MediaSource Go! is a convenient launch pad, not only for Creative MediaSource's components, but also for your own frequently used applications. If you have desktop shortcuts for your favorite applications, you can place them in one central location, Creative MediaSource Go!

The Creative MediaSource Go! button launches Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher. Creative MediaSource Go! floats on your desktop as a small profile bar. Clicking a button on the bar causes it to expand horizontally into a shortcut bar. Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher contains icons that launch the various MediaSource modules for controlling Sound Blaster Audigy 2. You can also add your own shortcut icons to Creative MediaSource Go!.

For more information and usage details on Creative MediaSource Go!, refer to its

online Help.

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-3

Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher

Just like the Start button in Windows, Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher provides a single point of access to most of the software programs you need, to control and customize Sound Blaster Audigy 2.

Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher consists of four tabs:

Settings, Product Support ❑ Programs

add your own shortcuts to other applications.

❑ Product Settings

Blaster Audigy 2’s hardware settings.

❑ Product Support

product registration forms, demonstration software as well as helpful documentation such as Getting Started guides.

❑ Companion Products

and applications.

For more information and usage details on Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher, refer to its online Help.

houses shortcuts to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 applications. You can also

houses shortcuts to specific programs for changing Sound

contains diagnostic software, product update information,

allows viewing of information on other Creative products

Companion Products

and

Programs, Product

Creative MediaSource Player

Creative MediaSource Player is the only software you will need for music and multimedia entertainment. Unlike other media players, Creative MediaSource Player is specially designed to access the power of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card. With it, you can:

❑

play back music and multimedia files: MP3, WAV, WMA, NVF, MLP, Video CD, etc

❑

enhance playback of ordinary music with surround effects using EAX

❑

record audio at various resolutions up to 24-bit/96 kHz

❑

vary the speed of audio playback without affecting the pitch (Time Scaling)

❑

use Smart Volume Management to play back a list of songs at a similar volume level even if they were originally recorded at different loudness levels

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-4

For extra convenience, you can switch between Creative MediaSource Organizer and Creative MediaSource Player with just a click of the mouse. For more information and usage details on Creative MediaSource Player, refer to its online Help.

Creative MediaSource Organizer

Finding and organizing songs

Keep your music database up to date

Transferring songs

Automatically playing multimedia content

Managing a huge collection of audio CDs and MP3 files can be a headache. With Creative MediaSource Organizer, you can find any recording easily, no matter where it is stored on your hard disk or external storage devices. The following is a list of tasks you can perform with Creative MediaSource Organizer.

Creative MediaSource Organizer searches your hard disk to compile a database of songs available, called a “PC Music Library” or can sort it and search for songs. Searching is very fast due to a sophisticated engine and use of three search fields: artist, genre and album.

Once songs have been found, you can create them in any desired sequence. You can also enter and edit extra information about each MP3 recording with

As songs are added or deleted from your computer and other storage devices, your PCML will need to be kept up to date. The Media Sniffer will monitor specified folders on your hard disk for file changes, and update your PCML accordingly.

NOMAD users can use Creative MediaSource Organizer to transfer music files to and from the computer and other compatible devices.

Media Detector makes it easy for users to access multimedia content from various internal or external media. There is no need to hunt through a maze of different software to play different types of files.

ID3

tags.

PCML

playlists

. Once you have a PCML, you

to automatically replay

Media Detector automatically recognizes the insertion or connection of CDs, VCDs,

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-5

and external devices like the NOMAD Jukebox and NOMAD MP3 players. Upon recognition, the content in the media will automatically start playing without further intervention from the user.

Extracting and converting songs

Storing music on recordable CD

Creative MediaSource DVDAudio Player

Storing hundreds of songs on your computer can consume much hard disk space. WAV files and tracks from audio CDs can take up to 50 MB per song. To reduce storage on your hard disk, you can convert tracks from audio CDs into smaller 4 to 5 MB MP3 files. Creative MediaSource Organizer’s built-in Rip Now module lets you easily extract tracks from audio CDs, then convert them to MP3 and WMA formats at high resolution bit rates of 320 Kbps and 160 Kbps, respectively.

To eliminate the need for you to manually type the track information of an audio CD’s ripped tracks, a feature called CDDB can connect your computer to the Internet (Gracenote’s CDDB service) and automatically retrieve the track names and other useful track information for you.

If you have a CD-writer, another way to reduce music storage on your computer’s hard disk is to record audio tracks onto CD-R or CD-RW for playback on many consumer hi-fi devices. Creative MediaSource Organizer’s Burn CD module lets you create your own audio and MP3 CDs from WAV, MP3 and WMA files. The Burn CD feature also lets you easily design, create, and print matching CD covers and liner notes for your audio CDs.

For more information and usage details on Creative MediaSource Organizer, refer to its online Help.

Use this application to play back today’s highest quality audio recordings available on DVD-Audio discs. You can enjoy 24-bit/96 kHz multichannel surround sound music, or stereo recordings of up to 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. Creative MediaSource DVD-Audio Player requires genuine Intel Pentium III 800 MHz, Windows 2000 SP2 or Windows XP SP1, and a DVD-ROM drive of at least 6X speed.

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-6

Creative EAX Console

EAX Console allows you to configure the Audigy 2 processor's effects engine.

EAX ADVANCED HD promises to deliver sounds that are so life-like, you can almost see them! It is the computer industry's first system to recreate and deliver realworld, interactive audio experiences in games, music, and other audio applications. These audio effects take your computer beyond home-theater quality, immersing you in sound so vivid, your imagination can almost “see” it. The effects go beyond today's surround sound and 3D positional audio, to actually model an environment by taking into account room size, acoustic properties, reverb, echo, and many other effects that create a real-world experience.

EAX Console consists of four sections:

Time Scaling

and

Audio Effects, CMSS 3D, Audio Clean-up

Audio Effects: Environmental Sound Processing

In Audio Effects, you can choose how you want to enhance all kinds of ordinary twochannel sounds.

❑ Advanced EQ

of sound to suit individual preference and equipment characteristics. Choose various presets like Jazz or Rock to suit the audio characteristics you like best.

❑ Special Effects

male voices can be turned into female voices, or human speech turned into “chipmunk talk”. You can have lots of fun, especially when communicating over the Internet.

❑ Studio Effects

electric guitar or other musical instrument.

❑ Environmental Effects

concert halls, and jazz clubs. By choosing an effect like “concert hall”, you can make any music sound like it is being produced inside a concert hall, with all the characteristic echos and reverbration. Various settings let you vary the type of effect, amount of effect applied, and others. If you have connected rear speakers to your computer, EAX will trick your ears into believing that your room has

lets you boost or de-emphasize the low, mid or high frequencies

let you modify sounds with pre-programmed algorithms so that

can add standard distortion, wah, delays and chorus effects to an

simulate typical acoustic environments like stadiums,

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-7

turned into a concert hall or jazz club. EAX becomes more effective as the number of speakers connected is increased. It supports up to 6 speakers and one subwoofer.

❑ Karaoke Effects

Users can also vary the music’s pitch to suit their vocal range.

let singers add high-quality echo to add richness to their voices.

CMSS 3D: Simulating Surround Sound

Audio Clean-up: Removing noise and distortion

Time Scaling: Varying the speed of playback

Creative MultiSpeaker Surround (CMSS) 3D makes ordinary two-channel (Left and Right Stereo) sound seem to surround you, even through only two speakers. For users with 5.1 or 6.1 multichannel speaker systems, CMSS can also simulate surround sound from ordinary stereo. This is useful for watching DVDs and VCDs, which contain only stereo soundtracks.

Select CMSS for multichannel audio enhancement on 4/4.1, 5.1 or 6.1 speaker systems, and CMSS2 for movies.

Note:

system.

Audio Clean-up allows you to process prerecorded as well as real-time audio, in order to remove noise, click sounds and other artifacts. For example, when recording music from old vinyl records, “click” and “pop” sounds can be removed with the Clean-up feature. The Click Meter informs you whenever the noise cleanup feature is activated during recording and also how many clicks are removed.

Karaoke fans and musicians may sometimes wish to slow a song down (or speed it up) to catch the lyrics or play along with the music. However, varying the speed usually also varies the pitch of the song. With the Time Scaling feature, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 users can maintain the pitch of a song while varying the playback speed.

For more information and usage details on EAX Console, refer to the Creative EAX

online Help.

For a 4/4.1-speaker system, audio for your subwoofer is processed by the speaker

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-8

Creative Surround Mixer

Use Creative Surround Mixer to select the device you wish to listen to or record from. It operates in two possible modes. Click the to switch between the two modes:

In Basic mode, you can:

❑

mix sounds from various audio input sources when playing or recording

❑

control volume, bass and treble

In Advanced mode, you can:

❑

control balance and vary the loudness ratio between front/rear speakers (fader)

❑

control the relative loudness levels between Front Center, Rear Center and Subwoofer speakers (if any)

For more information and usage details on Creative Surround Mixer, refer to its

online Help.

Basic Mode

Advanced Mode

button

Creative Speaker Settings

Creative Speaker Calibrator

Creative MiniDisc Center

This is the main application to use for the following tasks:

❑

Designating the number and configuration of speakers to use

❑

Testing your speakers

❑

Activating or deactivating Digital Output

❑

Managing bass output by selecting subwoofer crossover frequency and volume

Creative Speaker Calibrator assists you in optimizing loudspeaker settings and positioning to create much better surround sound and gaming sound effects.

Creative MiniDisc Center allows you to play back songs on CDs or supported audio formats, and record them to digital recorders such as Digital Audio Tape machines, and also MiniDisc (MD) recorders.

With MiniDisc Center, you can:

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-9

❑

create an album of your favorite songs, each of which may be in a different audio format

❑

insert a preset period of silence automatically between each track

❑

play back your personal album and record it to your MD recorder

For more information and usage details on Creative MiniDisc Center, refer to its

online Help.

Creative SoundFont Bank Manager

Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2

You can use Creative SoundFont Bank Manager to easily switch between multiple SoundFont banks for performances. This module is optimized to let users quickly audition various presets, reset MIDI devices, or create/modify/save various SoundFont banks from your computer’s RAM. Creative SoundFont Bank Manager also switches the Drum Kit on or off at Midi Channel 10.

A virtual keyboard is provided for the user to use the computer’s keyboard or mouse to audition SoundFont banks or play musical notes produced through MIDI devices. To edit the presets in the SoundFont banks, use Vienna SoundFont Studio, which you can download from http://www.SoundFont.com.

You can use external MIDI input devices to audition your MIDI banks and instruments. First, connect a MIDI input device to your audio card and then select that device in the Creative SoundFont Bank Manager. Once you discover the power of SoundFont technology, you will be amazed at the sound design possibilities available.

For more information and usage details on Creative SoundFont Bank Manager, refer to its online Help.

Normally, to listen to a song on the Internet, you need to download the entire file onto your hard disk first — before you can even

Internet radio stations can, however, make it more convenient for you to enjoy downloaded music: they employ “streaming” technology by which music data flows like a “stream” to your audio card

directly, bypassing permanent hard disk storage

hear

the music.

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-10

Thus, the song starts to play as soon as a portion of its data stream has arrived at your audio card. The downside of streaming technology was that you could not record the music onto your hard disk for future reference.

Audio Stream Recorder 2 (ASR2) is designed to overcome this problem by letting you record streaming audio onto your hard disk as standard MP3 or WMA files.

To use ASR2, select from its predefined list of radio stations to listen to. You can click the red Record button to start recording music to your hard disk, or use the Schedule feature to program the computer to record streaming music unattended. You can also use ASR2 to listen to selected radio stations live by clicking the blue Play button.

For more information and usage details on Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2, refer to its online Help.

Creative Wave Studio

Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities

Creative Diagnostics

When you need to edit sound files, use Creative Wave Studio. This application supports popular file formats like WAV and AIFF. With Wave Studio, you can convert between file formats and edit out any section of sound. Apply effects like fade-in/ fade-out. You can also use it to blend two or more songs into a single file.

For more information and usage details on Creative Recorder, refer to its online Help.

Use Creative Diagnostics to quickly test your audio card’s Wave, MIDI or CD Audio playback capability, recording function and speaker output. For more information and usage details on Creative Diagnostics, refer to its online Help.

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-11

Creative Speaker Settings

This is the main application to use for managing your speakers and troubleshooting problems related to speaker configurations. See “Creative Speaker Settings” on page 3-9.

Using Audigy 2 Software 3-12

General Specifications

This section displays the specifications of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, Joystick/MIDI bracket and Audigy 2 Drive.

General Specifications

This section displays the specifications of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, Joystick/MIDI bracket and Audigy 2 Drive.

Features

PCI Bus Mastering

Audigy 2 Processor

High Quality Audio Path

❑ PCI Specification Version 2.1 compliant ❑ Bus mastering reduces latency and speeds up system performance

❑ Advanced hardware accelerated digital effects processing ❑ 32-bit digital processing, which maintains a 192 dB dynamic range ❑ Patented 8-point interpolation that reduces distortion to inaudible levels ❑ 64-voice hardware wavetable synthesizer ❑ Professional quality digital mixing and equalization ❑ Unlimited size of SoundFont bank can be mapped to host memory (limited by

available system memory)

❑ Mixes analog sources such as CD Audio, Line in, Auxiliary, TAD and PC speaker,

Microphone in via AC’97 Codec with internal digital sources

❑ Playback of 64 audio channels, each at an arbitrary sample rate ❑ 32-bit mixing of all digital sources within Audigy 2’s Digital Mixer ❑ 24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs at 96 kHz sample rate ❑ 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96 kHz to analog 5.1

speaker output

❑ 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources at 192 kHz to stereo

output

General Specifications A-1

❑

16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz

Professional Digital Audio Processing

Flexible Mixer Control

Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoding

❑

Supports Sony/Philips Digital Interface (SPDIF) format of up to 24-bit/96 kHz quality

❑

SPDIF output at selectable sampling rate of 48 or 96 kHz

Note:

contents authored with DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology

❑

Selectable 6-channel SPDIF output to matching digital speaker systems

❑

Software switching of SPDIF Input-to-Output (bypass) to minimize cable connection hassle

❑

Low latency multitrack recording with ASIO support

❑

Software playback control of CD Audio, Line In, Auxiliary, TAD, PC speaker, Microphone In, Wave/DirectSound device, MIDI device and CD Digital (CD SPDIF)

❑

Software recording control of Analog Mix (sum of CD Audio, Line In, Auxiliary, TAD, PC speaker) Microphone In, Wave/DirectSound device, MIDI device and CD Digital (CD SPDIF)

❑

Selectable input source or mixing of various audio sources for recording

❑

Adjustable master volume control

❑

Separate bass and treble control

❑

Front and rear balance control

❑

Muting and panning control for mixer sources

❑

Decodes Dolby Digital Surround EX to 6.1 or 5.1 channels or pass-through compressed SPDIF bitstream to an external decoder

❑

Bass redirection: enhances bass output to subwoofer for small satellite speaker systems

SPDIF output not available during playback of protected digital audio

General Specifications A-2

❑

Crossover bass frequency (10–200 Hz): adjustable to standalone subwoofer units for desired bass level

❑

Adjustable Center, Rear Center and LFE level control

Creative Multi Speaker Surround

(CMSSTM)

SB1394TM Compatibility

Connectivity

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

Audio Inputs

Audio Outputs

❑

Multispeaker technology

❑

Upmixes mono or stereo sources to 6.1 channels

❑

Professional-quality panning and mixing algorithm

❑

Compliant to IEEE 1394a specification

❑

Supports data rates of 100, 200, and 400 Mbps

❑

Supports up to 63 IEEE 1394 compatible devices in a daisy-chain configuration

❑

Supplies up to 3 watts to IEEE 1394 compatible devices

❑

One line-level analog Line input via stereo jack on rear bracket

❑

One mono Microphone analog input via stereo jack on rear bracket

❑

CD_IN line-level analog input via 4-pin Molex connector on card

❑

AUX_IN line-level analog input via 4-pin Molex connector on card

❑

TAD line-level analog input via 4-pin Molex connector on card

❑

CD_SPDIF digital input via 2-pin Molex connector on card

❑

DIGITAL OUT via 4-pole 3.5 mm minijack on rear bracket

General Specifications A-3

❑

Three line-level analog outputs via 3.5 mm minijacks on rear bracket: front, rear, and rear center/center/subwoofer Line-Outs 1, 2 and 3

❑

Stereo headphone (32-ohm load) support on Front Line-Out

SB1394 Interfaces

The 6-pin SB1394 connector/port has a 3 watt maximum power output. Connect only one high power usage device such as the IEEE 1394 hard disk and CDRW drive to this port unless it is self-powered.

Interfaces

❑

One 2 x 5 pin Internal SB1394 connector on card

❑

One 6-pin SB1394 port on rear bracket

❑

AD_EXT 2 x 20 pin header for connection to Audigy 2 Drive

❑

JOYSTICK 2 x 8 pin header for connection to the Joystick/MIDI connector (optional attachment)

General Specifications A-4

Audigy 2 Drive

Audio/Video Inputs and Outputs On Front Panel

Interfaces

❑

Two RCA jacks for coaxial SPDIF input and output

❑

One headphone output with auto detection via ¼” stereo jack with volume control

❑

One shared line-level analog Line/Microphone input (Line In 2/Mic In 2) via ¼” stereo jack. Shared input selectable via switch with gain control for microphone

❑

Two mini DIN female connectors for MIDI input and output

❑

Two RCA jacks for left and right channel stereo Auxiliary inputs

❑

Two optical connectors for optical SPDIF input and output

❑

One SB1394 connector for IEEE 1394 input and output

❑

One 4-pin power supply header for connection to system power supply unit

❑

One 2 x 20 pin AD_EXT header for connection to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

❑

One Infrared receiver for receiving infrared signals from the remote control

❑

One 2 x 5-pin SB1394 header for connection to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

General Specifications A-5

Troubleshooting and FAQs

This section provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

This appendix provides solutions to problems you may encounter during installation or normal use.

Problems Installing Software

The installation does not start automatically after the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD is inserted.

The AutoPlay feature in your Windows system may not be enabled.

To start the installation program through the My Computer shortcut menu:

1. Double-click the

2. In the

3. On the shortcut menu, click

To enable AutoPlay through Auto Insert Notification:

1. Click

2. In the

3. In the

your CD-ROM drive.

4. Click the

5. In the

Notification

6. Click the OK button to exit from the dialog box.

My Computer

Start

Control Panel

System Properties

Properties

My Computer

Settings

icon on your Windows desktop.

window, right-click the CD-ROM drive icon.

AutoPlay

Control Panel

window, double-click the

dialog box, click the

button.

dialog box, click the

and follow the instructions on the screen.

Settings

System Device Manager

tab and select

icon.

tab and select

Auto Insert

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-1

Problems with Sound

There is unexpected excessive environmental sound or effects when an audio file is played.

The last selected preset is an inappropriate environment for the current audio file.

To switch to an appropriate environment:

1. Click the

2. Click the

Note:

No sound from the headphones.

Check the following:

❑

The headphones are connected to the Headphones jack.

❑

In the option is selected in the

❑

In the

“What U Hear”

Individual analog recording sources are not displayed in Creative Surround Mixer.

The following analog recording sources are combined in one recording control called

Analog Mix (Line/CD/TAD/Aux/PC) Basic

tab:

❑

Line-In

❑

CD Audio

❑

Auxiliary

❑

TAD -In

❑

PC Speaker

Audio Effects Enable/Disable Audio Effects

The preset box title may change, depending on the effect you select.

Speaker Selection

Basic

tab of Creative Surround Mixer, the recording source selected is

tab in EAX Console.

check box to clear it.

tab of Creative Speaker Settings, the

Speaker/Headphone Selection

, which is found in the

Headphones

box.

Record

panel of the

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-2

Individual analog recording sources cannot be selected in Creative Surround Mixer.

Five analog recording sources are combined under the selection

CD/TAD/Aux/PC)

. For more information, see “Individual analog recording sources

Analog Mix (Line/

are not displayed in Creative Surround Mixer.” on page B-2.

To record an individual analog source:

❑

In the recording source selected is

❑

In the clicking the

Record

Source

Speaker

panel of the

Basic

tab in Creative Surround Mixer, make sure the

Analog Mix (Line/CD/TAD/Aux/PC)

panel, mute the analog sources that you do not want to record by

button to change it to a button with a

red cross sign

on it.

No sound from the speakers.

Check the following:

❑

You have connected your speakers to your card's output.

❑

You have selected the correct source in the

Source

panel of Creative Surround

Mixer.

❑

If both the above conditions have been met and you still do not get any sound, click the

red plus sign

Output Only

above the

check box is selected. If it is, you are in the Digital Output Only

Volume

control and check whether the

Digital

mode and so must connect to digital speakers to hear the sound from your audio card. See the section on “Speaker Selection Settings” in Creative Speaker Setting’s online Help for more information.

No audio output when playing digital files such as .WAV, MIDI files or AVI clips.

Check the following:

❑

The speakers’ volume control knob, if any, is set at mid-range. Use Creative Surround Mixer to adjust the volume, if necessary.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-3

❑

The powered speakers or external amplifier are connected to the card’s Line Out or Rear Out jack.

❑

There is no hardware conflict between the card and a peripheral device. See “Resolving I/O Conflicts” on page B-11.

❑

The Speaker selection in Creative Speaker Settings corresponds to your speaker or headphone configuration.

No audio output when playing audio CDs or DOS games that require a CDROM.

To solve this problem:

❑

Make sure the Analog Audio connector on the CD-ROM drive and the CD In connector on the audio card are connected.

❑

Enable digital CD playback: For Windows 98 SE

i. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. ii. In the iii. In the Multimedia Properties dialog box, click the CD Music tab. iv. Click the v. Click the OK button.

Control Panel

Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device

dialog box, double-click the

Multimedia

icon.

check box to select it.

For Windows Me

i. Click ii. In the iii. In the iv. Double-click the DVD/CD-ROM drives icon.

Your computer drives will appear. v. Right-click the disk drive icon. A menu will appear. vi. Click vii.In the Digital CD Playback box of the next dialog box, click the Enable digital CD

audio for this CD-ROM device

Start

Control Panel System Properties

Properties

Settings

dialog box, double-click the

Control Panel

dialog box, click the

check box to select it.

System

Device Manager

icon.

tab.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-4

viii.Click the OK button.

For Windows 2000 and Windows XP

i. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. ii. In the iii. In the iv. Click the v. Double-click the DVD/CD-ROM drives icon.

Your computer drives will appear. vi. Right-click the disk drive icon. A menu will appear. vii.Click viii.In the

audio for this CD-ROM device

Control Panel System Properties

Device Manager

Properties

Digital CD Playback

dialog box, double-click the

dialog box, click the

button.

box of the next dialog box, click the

check box to select it.

System

Hardware

icon.

tab.

Enable digital CD

Panning a source sometimes turns off its sound.

This occurs when you are in the Digital Output Only mode and the source’s left-right balance in a software mixer application other than Creative Surround Mixer (for example, the Windows Volume Control application) is at the opposite end compared to the position to which you have panned the source in the

Basic

tab of Creative Surround Mixer. For example, the CD Audio balance in Windows Volume Control is on the left but in Creative Surround Mixer you have panned the CD Audio to the right.

To solve this problem:

Open that other mixer, and center the balances for all the audio input sources. This ensures that your analog sources will not turn silent when you pan them in Creative Surround Mixer.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-5

Problems with File Transfers on Some VIA Chipset Motherboards

After you install the Audigy 2 card on a VIA chipset motherboard, you may have the slight chance of seeing one of the following:

When transferring large amounts of data, the computer stops responding (‘hangs’) or restarts itself, OR Files transferred from another drive are incomplete or corrupted.

These problems appear in a small number of computers, which contain the VIA VT82C686B controller chipset on their motherboards.

To verify if your motherboard has the VT82C686B chipset:

❑

Refer to your computer or motherboard manual, or

❑

In Windows:

i. Click ii. Double-click the System icon. iii. Click the Device Manager or Hardware tab. iv. Click the v. In the list that appears, see if the items

highlighted in Figure B-1 appear.

vi. If the items appear, remove your computer cover

and locate the VIA chipset on your motherboard. (Take note of the safety precautions on page 1-

14.) The VT82C686B chipset has its model number inscribed on the chip.

If you have the VT82C686B chipset:

❑

Creative recommends that you first contact your computer vendor or motherboard manufacturer for the latest solution.

❑

Some users have solved the above problems by doing one or both of the following:

Start

Settings

Systems devices

Control Panel

icon.

Figure B-1: Device Manager tab.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-6

• downloading the latest VIA 4in1 drivers from http://www.viatech.com*,

• obtaining the most current BIOS for your motherboard from the manufacturer’s web site*.

*Content in these web sites is controlled by other companies. Creative bears no responsibility for information or downloads obtained from them. This information is provided only as a convenience to you.

Insufficient SoundFont Cache

The trade-off of a smaller SoundFont file is its lower sound quality.

There is insufficient memory to load SoundFont banks.

This may occur when a SoundFont-compatible MIDI file is loaded or played while insufficient memory has been allocated to Creative SoundFont Bank Manager. To have sufficient SoundFont cache memory:

❑

Remove one or more SoundFont banks from your SoundFont cache. Do the following:

i. Click the

The Configure Bank dialog box appears. ii. Click the Select Bank drop-down button, and select a bank index. iii. Highlight the bank and click the iv. Click the OK button to finish configuring your banks.

❑

Load smaller SoundFont banks instead; or add more RAM to your system. Do one of the following:

•In the select a smaller SoundFont bank, if available, from the

• Increase the system RAM on your computer. For more details, visit the

www.soundblaster.com site for technical help.

Note: The amount of SoundFont cache you can allocate depends on the system RAM available. Your computer may slow down if the amount of cache used is too high.

Configure Bank

Bank

button.

Remove

dialog box of Creative SoundFont Bank Manager,

button.

Select Bank

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-7

box.

Problems with Joystick

The joystick port is not working.

The audio card’s Joystick/MIDI connector may be conflicting with the system’s joystick port.

To solve this problem:

Disable the audio card’s Joystick/MIDI connector and use the system port instead. Do the following:

1. Click

2. In the

3. In the

4. Double-click

5. Click the

6. In the Properties dialog box:

7. Click OK to restart Windows and for the change to take effect.

When the Gameport Joystick interface is disabled, the entry in Device Manager has a red cross.

Start

Control Panel System Properties

Audigy 2 Gameport (Creative Game Port

If you have an

• Clear the check box to disable it.

If you have a

• Make sure that the check box is selected to disable it.

Settings

-> window, double-click the

Sound, Video And Game Controllers

Properties

Disable In This Hardware Profile

button.

Original Configuration (Current)

Control Panel

dialog box, click the

System

Device Manager

for Windows 2000).

icon.

, and then select

check box:

tab.

Creative

Do not attempt to make changes to the BIOS unless you have experience with system software.

The joystick is not working properly in some programs.

The program may use the system processor timing to calculate the joystick position. When the processor is fast, the program may determine the position of the joystick incorrectly, assuming that the position is out of range.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-8

To solve this problem:

Increase your system’s 8 bit I/O recovery time of the BIOS setting, usually under the Chipset Feature Settings section. Or, if available, you may adjust the AT Bus speed to a slower clock. If the problem persists, try a different joystick.

Problems with Multiple Audio Devices

The other installed audio card is not working well.

You may have an existing audio device installed in your computer. The audio device may be an audio card or an onboard audio chipset. Before you install your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, you are advised to completely uninstall and remove your existing audio device. Operating multiple audio devices in your computer may introduce usability issues.

Alternatively, during the installation of your Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, do the following:

❑

If your computer detects an installed Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound Blaster PCI512 audio card, a message box recommending that you completely uninstall and remove the older audio device will appear. Click the the instructions on the screen to complete the removal of the old audio device. Remove the old audio card from your computer.

❑

If your computer detects any other installed audio card, a message box recommending that you completely uninstall and remove the older audio device will appear. Click the Blaster Audigy 2 card. After the installation of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card, completely uninstall the existing card and remove the audio card from your computer.

The onboard audio chipset is not working well.

To disable an onboard audio chipset, do the following:

1. Restart your system.

Yes

button to continue with the installation of the Sound

Yes

button and follow

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-9

2. During the memory check, press <F2> or <Delete>, depending on your motherboard. The BIOS setup menu appears.

3. Select

4. Select chipset.

5. Press <Esc> to return to the BIOS setup menu.

6. Select

7. Press <Y> and then press <Enter>

Chipset Features Setup

Onboard Legacy Audio

Save & Exit Setup

, and then press <Enter>.

and press <Enter>.

and press <Enter> to disable your onboard audio

Problems with Sound Blaster Live! Series or Sound Blaster PCI512 card

Sound Blaster Live! or Sound Blaster PCI512 applications are not working.

Other than normal playback and recording functions, older audio devices may not work well when Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is installed.

To solve this problem:

Uninstall and remove the older card from the computer. Otherwise, you can choose to disable the Sound Blaster Live! or Sound Blaster PCI512 card:

1. Click

2. In the

3. In the

4. Double-click

5. Click the

6. In the Properties dialog box:

Start

Control Panel System Properties

Sound Blaster Live! Series

If you have an

• Clear the check box to disable it. If you have a

• Make sure that the check box is selected to disable it.

Settings

-> window, double-click the

Sound, Video And Game Controllers

Properties

Disable In This Hardware Profile

button.

Original Configuration (Current)

Control Panel

dialog box, click the

Creative Sound Blaster PCI512

System

Device Manager

icon.

, and then select

check box:

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-10

tab.

Creative

7. Click OK to restart Windows and for the change to take effect.

When the Sound Blaster Live! series is disabled, the entry in Device Manager has a red cross.

Resolving I/O Conflicts

You can also refer to the Troubleshooting section in the online Help of Windows 98 SE/ Me.

Conflicts between your audio card and another peripheral device may occur if your card and the other device are set to use the same I/O address.

To resolve I/O conflicts, change the resource settings of your audio card or the conflicting peripheral device in your system using Device Manager in Windows 98 SE/Me.

If you still do not know which card is causing the conflict, remove all cards except the audio card and other essential cards (for example, disk controller and graphics cards). Add each card back until Device Manager indicates that a conflict has occurred.

To resolve hardware conflicts in Windows 98 SE/Me:

1. Click

2. In the

3. In the

4. Under the Sound, Video And Game Controllers entry, select the conflicting audio

5. In the Properties dialog box, click the

6. Make sure that the

7. Restart your system to allow Windows 98 SE/Me to reassign resources to your

Start

Control Panel System Properties

card driver—indicated by an exclamation mark (!)—and click the button.

button.

audio card and/or the conflicting device.

Settings

window, double-click the

Use automatic settings

Control Panel

dialog box, click the

System

Resources

check box is selected, and click the

icon.

Device Manager

tab.

Properties

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-11

Problems with Encore DVD Player

The Encore DVD Player is not launched when a DVD disc is inserted into the drive.

To solve this problem:

1. In the Windows system tray, right-click the Disc Detector icon, and then click

Properties

2. On the sure that the

3. Click the

4. Select the DVD Disc entry and then click the

5. In the

6. Locate and select D:\Program Files\Creative\PC- DVD Encore (where D: represents your CD-ROM drive) and double-click the entry

Name

The

7. Click the OK button twice.

General

Players

Players Properties

tabbed page of the

Enable Disc Detector

tab.

dialog box, click the

box now displays the entry

Creative Disc Detector

check box is selected.

Select Player

ctdvdply

Browse

button.

ctdvdply

dialog box, make

Problems with Software DVD Player

Changing audio configuration (for example, switching from multichannel mode to SPDIF Output mode or vice versa) while watching a DVD movie does not seem to work, even though all settings in the software DVD player and in Creative Surround Mixer are correct.

To solve this problem:

Close and restart the software DVD player.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-12

Problems with DV driver for Windows 98 SE/ 2000/Me/XP

The 1394 DVConnect driver does not run on Windows XP.

The DV camcorder is not working properly.

The MSDV camcorder driver may not be the latest version (v4.10.2226).

To solve this problem:

1. Visit www.Microsoft.com and download the Digital Video update for the DirectX

8.0 file (dx80bda.exe).

2. Install the above file into your computer.

You need to install DirectX 8.0 or 8.0a run time first.

Note:

If the problem still persists, the MSDV camcorder driver may not be fully optimized for your DV camcorder.

To solve this problem:

1. Turn on your DV camcorder.

2. Insert the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Exit from the welcome screen.

3. Using Windows Explorer, locate the DVConnect 240.exe file. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup. If you are in Windows 98 SE, you may be prompted to insert the Windows 98 SE CD-ROM first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete this setup.

4. Click the

5. Turn off and then turn on your DV camcorder.

Finish

button.

1394

folder in the CD-ROM, and run the

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-13

Problems in Windows XP

A Hardware Installation error message appears on a Windows XP operating system when non-Creative applications are being installed.

At the time of this product's release, Microsoft strongly encouraged companies to submit their hardware solutions for certification. If a hardware device driver is not submitted, or does not qualify, for Microsoft certification, a warning message similar to the one below appears.

You may see the message when you install hardware drivers from companies other than Creative. If you do, you may choose to click the Device drivers not signed by Microsoft may be used in Windows XP, and need not impair or destabilize your computer.

Should you need more XP-related information or help, you can contact the company that developed the driver, at the company's web site or helpline.

Continue Anyway

button.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-14

Problems with Digital Audio Devices

If you have installed Intel Application Accelerator version 1.1.2 in your computer, DMA may be automatically selected on all your drives.

Intermittent hissing or no sound is heard from my digital speakers.

Make sure you select the sampling rate of the PCM SPDIF output of your Digital Out connector to match the requirements of the receiving device. You may need to select a lower digital output sampling rate. The choices available are 48 kHz and 96 kHz.

To solve this problem:

1. In Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher, click the

2. Double-click the

3. Click the

4. Click the required sampling rate from the

Popping noises is heard during playback.

Check that the DMA feature is selected for all drives.

To solve this problem:

For Windows 98 SE and Windows Me:

1. Click

2. In the

3. In the

4. Double-click the Your computer drives will appear.

5. Double-click the hard disk drive icon.

6. In the box that appears, click the

7. Click the An alert message box appears.

8. Click the OK button.

9. Click the OK button in the next box.

10.Click the

Sampling Rate

Start

Control Panel System Properties

DMA

Device Controls

tab.

Settings

-> dialog box, double-click the

Disk

drives icon.

(direct memory access) check box to select it.

button on the

Control Panel

dialog box, click the

icon.

Digital Output Sampling Rate

Settings

System Properties

Product Settings

System

Device Manager

tab.

dialog box.

tab.

list.

icon.

tab.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-15

11.When prompted to restart your computer, click the

Yes

button.

12.Repeat steps 4-11 if you have other drives, for example, other hard disk drives, CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD-ROM drives. In step 4, double-click the respective drive icon.

For Windows 2000 and Windows XP:

1. Click

2. In the

3. In the

Start

Control Panel System Properties

4. Click the

5. Double-click the

Settings

dialog box, double-click the

Device Manager

ATA/ATAPI IDE Controllers

Control Panel

dialog box, click the button.

System

Hardware

icon.

tab.

Your IDE channels will appear.

6. Right-click the

7. Click

8. In the

Properties

9. Click the

Primary IDE Channel

dialog box, click the

DMA if available

icon.

Advanced Settings

check box to select it.

tab.

10.Click the OK button.

Troubleshooting and FAQs B-16

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Introduction

High Definition Digital Audio Entertainment

What is EAX ADVANCED HD?

Package Contents

System Requirements

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card

SB1394 applications, games or DVD viewing

Internet Multimedia and Entertainment

Getting More Information

More Help

Technical Support

Document Conventions

Installing Hardware

What You Need

Your Joystick/ MIDI Bracket

Your Audigy 2 Drive

Connecting Headphones

Connecting Microphones

Adjusting Headphones Volume and Microphone Gain

Using the Audigy 2 Drive control knobs

Using Creative Surround Mixer

Using a Remote Control with Your Drive

Remote Control Functions

Installation Steps

Step 1: Prepare your computer

Step 3: Install the Audigy 2 Drive

Step 7: Connect to power outlet

Connecting Speaker Systems

Positioning Your Speakers

Installing Software

Installing Drivers and Applications

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo

Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Applications and Device Drivers

Reinstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications

Uninstalling all Audio Drivers and Applications

Installing/ Uninstalling selected Audio Drivers or Applications

Updating Windows 2000 (Service Pack 2)

Updating Windows 98 SE

Installing Digital Video Update

Using Audigy 2 Software

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Applications

Demos

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Getting Started Demo

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Feature Showcase Demo

SoundFont Showcase

Introduction to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 software suite

Creative MediaSource Go!

Creative MediaSource Go! Launcher

Creative MediaSource Player

Creative MediaSource Organizer

Finding and organizing songs

Keep your music database up to date

Transferring songs

Automatically playing multimedia content

Extracting and converting songs

Storing music on recordable CD

Creative EAX Console

Audio Effects: Environmental Sound Processing

CMSS 3D: Simulating Surround Sound

Audio Clean-up: Removing noise and distortion

Time Scaling: Varying the speed of playback

Creative Surround Mixer

Creative Speaker Settings

Creative Speaker Calibrator

Creative MiniDisc Center

Creative SoundFont Bank Manager

Creative Audio Stream Recorder 2

Creative Wave Studio

Diagnostic and troubleshooting utilities

Creative Diagnostics

Creative Speaker Settings

General Specifications

Features

PCI Bus Mastering

High Quality Audio Path